aristotle and dante (movie) was good

4 stars

DISCLAIMER: i have not read the book so no comparisons will be made. do not get mad at me for it. 

fairly spoiler free nothing that's important 

i saw this at the premier at tiff without seeing the teaser/trailer or anything. i hadn't even read the synopsis online or on the back of the book. all that being said, this movie is good. and not in an "appealing to the fans of the book, no artistic liberties were taken, this feels stale". i mean it in an "everything was so intentional, so detail oriented, SO cinematic, the score was great, and for a movie shot on digital the colouring is fantastic" way. 

i think what i enjoyed most about the movie was that, as someone who was clueless going into it, i would've never guessed it was a book. alberto makes the movie her own. someone in the crowed during the q&a asked (rather aggressively) why their favourite lines had been cut out (a pet peeve of mine). alberto answered with something along the lines of "at some point the writing had to become my own, sound and feel like me" and that comes through beautifully in the movie. 

the boys gave phenomenal performances but a huge shout out goes to eugenio derbez who plays ari's father. the NUANCE IN THAT MANS PERFORMANCE. outstanding. i do wish we got to spend a little more time with him but i did cherish the time we got. 

unfortunately car manuel miranda was not there. i just wanted an excuse to call him car manuel after i saw that photo, moving on. i would stay out on the lookout for alberto in the future, she so clearly cares about her characters and her actors, take one glance at her social media not to mention the way she praised them during the q&a (well deserved mind you). alberto is so refreshing and i want to be her best friend, i have nothing more to say. 

that's a lie i always have more to say have you met me? i still cannot believe i got tickets to a movie without knowing it's a premier. like i was in the first couple hundred people to this movie ever. what. guess i'm just indie and quirky like that. wanna come over and listen to tame impala on vinyl? i'm KIDDING. watch the fucking movie then tell me how right i am.